TITLE:
Risk Factors of Type 2 Diabetes among Maasai Pastoral Communities in Simanjiro, Tanzania
AUTHORS:
Juliana Mandha, Buza Joram, Neema Kassimu, Pammla Petrucka
KEYWORDS:
Type 2 Diabetes, Maasai, Rural, Tanzania, WHO STEPWISE, Impaired Fasting Glucose
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.2 No.11,
November
13,
2015
ABSTRACT: Background: The prevalence of non-communicable diseases in particular
diabetes is rising worldwide especially in low income countries. Information on
the risk factors at the community level is of paramount importance to enable
strategic preventive programs. This study is undertaken to investigate the prevalence
of Type 2 diabetes and Impaired Fasting Glucose and associated risk factors
among Maasai communities of Simanjiro District, Tanzania. Methods: This is a
cross-sectional population based study. Information on the risk factors is
obtained using the World Health Organization STEPWISE approach. Target group are
Maasai adults aged 25 years and above living in Simanjiro District. Descriptive
statistics is used to explore prevalence and risk factors of Type 2 diabetes
and impaired fasting glucose. Type 2 diabetes is defined as fasting blood
glucose ≥ 7.0 mmol/L and/or being on diabetic medication. Impaired Fasting
Glucose is defined as fasting blood glucose between 5.6 and 6.9 mmol/L. Pearson
correlation and regression are used to investigate the association of risk
factors with fasting blood glucose. Results: Prevalence of Type 2 diabetes is
at 0.9% (95%CI; [0.3, 2.1]) and impaired fasting tolerance at 2.4% (95%CI;
[1.3, 4.1]). Fasting blood glucose is positively (p